Inexact Date Codes

These codes are used primarily when exact dates cannot be obtained.
Banders should rarely need to use them.

Month Inexact Codes

CODE

DESCRIPTION

EXAMPLE

82

Summer (06/21/YY thru 09/21/YY)

82/99/YY

83

Spring (03/20/YY thru 06/20/YY)

83/99/YY

92

Winter (12/21/YY-1 thru 03/19/YY)

92/99/YY

93

Fall (09/22/YY thru 12/20/YY)

93/99/YY

94

Hunting Season (09/01/YY thru 03/31/YY+1)

94/99/YY

99

Unknown month of encounter

99/99/YY

00

Unknown month of banding

00/99/YY

Day Inexact Codes

CODE

DESCRIPTION

EXAMPLE

41

1st ten days in month

MM/41/Year

42

2nd ten days in month

MM/42/Year

43

3rd ten days in month

MM/43/Year

45

encountered during special hunting seasons

MM/45/Year

51-81*

Encounter letter date or postmark date (plus 50)

**

99

Unknown day of encounter

MM/99/Year

00

Unknown day of banding

MM/99/Year

* 50 is added to the postmark date or the date the encounter letter is received
or processed at the BBL because no encounter date was provided or the reporter
stated they did not know when the bird was encountered.

** For example, the date code 12/65/1970 indicates a letter from the finder
had a postmark of 12/15/1970 but they did not include an encounter date.